Author: Vardiafrica

The board of trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has backed Sunday Ude-Okoye as national secretary of the party. The BoT’s decision is contained in a communique issued after a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. The development comes less than a week after the governors elected on the PDP platform recognised Ude-Okoye as the scribe of the party. BACKGROUND The PDP is embroiled in a fresh leadership crisis as both Samuel Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye are laying claim to the position of national secretary. In December 2024, the court of appeal ruled that Ude-Okoye should replace Anyanwu as the PDP national…

President Bola Tinubu has raised the proposed 2025 budget from ₦49.7 trillion to ₦54.2 trillion, citing additional revenues generated by key government agencies. The President conveyed the budget adjustment in separate letters sent to both the Senate and the House of Representatives, which were read during plenary today by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. According to President Tinubu, the increase was driven by ₦1.4 trillion in additional revenue from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), ₦1.2 trillion from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and ₦1.8 trillion generated by other government-owned agencies. Following the announcement, the Senate President has referred the…

In a significant move to enhance road infrastructure funding and sustain national development, the Federal Government has officially commenced toll operations on the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi Road corridor. This action, which marks the beginning of tolling operations along the vital 227.2-kilometer stretch, is aimed at repaying a $460.8 million loan secured from the China Exim Bank to rehabilitate and upgrade the road. The new tolling policy is expected to generate substantial revenue that will not only support the road’s maintenance but also contribute to the overall upkeep of federal roads across Nigeria. At the official launch of toll operations at the Garaku…

The leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly continues following the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa on January 13, 2025. To address the ongoing turmoil, some Assembly members traveled to Abuja for a meeting with President Bola Tinubu. On February 3, a key meeting was held at Lagos House Marina, attended by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Kadri Hamzat, and GAC leader Tajudeen Olusi, among others. While the agenda was not disclosed, discussions likely focused on Obasa’s removal, which has sparked political controversy. Tensions escalated further after Obasa filed a petition with the DSS on January 30,…

President Donald Trump said Tuesday the United States will take control of war-torn Gaza, as he addressed reporters at the White House after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the country’s conflict with Hamas. “The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it. And be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on this site,” Trump said. In a proposal that lacked details on how he would move out more than two million Palestinians or control Gaza, Trump said he would make…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Wednesday for Paris, France, on a private visit en route to Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. In Addis Ababa, President Tinubu will join African leaders at the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU Heads of State, scheduled from February 12th to 16th, 2025. The president will arrive in Addis Ababa early next week for the African Union summit. While in France, President Tinubu will meet with his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron.

The Senate has issued a stern ultimatum to several top government agencies, warning that failure to appear before the Senate Public Accounts Committee over pending audit queries will result in arrest warrants and possible removal from office. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Aliyu Wadada issued the warning while expressing frustration over the continued defiance of key government agencies, including the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; Federal Inland Revenue Service Chairman, Zacch Adedeji; Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL); Central Bank of Nigeria; Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Others named include the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission…

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has declared himself the best-ever player in the game, rating himself above bitter rival Lionel Messi; Argentina’s Diego Maradona; and the legendary Pele of Brazil. Debates over who will be regarded as the Greatest of all Time (GOAT) in football have been raging over the years, pitting mostly Ronaldo and Messi. Both have won 13 Ballon d’Ors – five for the Portuguese and eight for the Argentine football wizard. Before now, Ronaldo and Messi have been compared with Pele – who won three World Cups – and Maradona who scooped the 1986 edition of the competition.…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its proposed protest over the 50 per cent increase in telecommunication tariff. The decision was taken after the labour union met with the delegation from the Federal government led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, on Monday. According to a statement signed by the Director, Information & Public Relations in the office of the SGF, Seguin Imohiosen, the meeting was aimed to maintain industrial harmony and to also protect the interest of Nigerians. He said that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who spoke on…

The Police Service Commission says it does not have the Constitutional powers to determine the appointment or exit of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun According to the Commission, the clarification follows inquiries regarding the PSC’s recent directive for officers who have served over 35 years or reached 60 years of age to retire, in accordance with constitutional provisions. A statement signed by the PSC spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, emphasized that the Commission’s powers do not extend to the IGP. “The Police Service Commission is one of the Federal Executive Bodies established under Section 153(m) of the 1999 Constitution of the…